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Metatheatre and Critical Race Theory: a Combination for Compelling Storytelling and Effective Changemaking

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Metatheatre and Critical Race Theory: a Combination for Compelling Storytelling and Effective Changemaking University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- 2020 Metatheatre and Critical Race Theory: A Combination for Compelling Storytelling and Effective Changemaking Andrew Coleburn University of Central Florida Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020 University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Masters Thesis (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Coleburn, Andrew, "Metatheatre and Critical Race Theory: A Combination for Compelling Storytelling and Effective Changemaking" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-. 30. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020/30 METATHEATRE AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY: A COMBINATION FOR COMPELLING STORYTELLING AND EFFECTIVE CHANGEMAKING by ANDREW COLEBURN B.A. Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 2016 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in the Department of Theatre in the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Spring Term 2020 Major Professor: Belinda C Boyd © 2020 Andrew Coleburn ii ABSTRACT Vaclav Havel once said that “[t]heatre is always a sensitive seismograph of an era, perhaps the most sensitive one there is; it’s a sponge that quickly soaks up important ingredients in the atmosphere around it.” One of the more important “ingredients” in our cultural atmosphere in modern America is the issue of identity. In his book on metatheatre, Richard Hornby posits that theatre is “a kind of identity laboratory, in which social roles can be examined vicariously.” In this thesis, I examine Hornby’s theory of the five different modes of metatheatre, critique each, and argue for the addition of a sixth mode. I then explain the basics of critical race theory, and argue for the use of it as a theoretical lens in the theatre and for the creation of a body of “critical race theatre.” Using the framework of metatheatre and the theoretical lens of critical race theory, I analyze both Branden Jacob’s Jenkins’ An Octoroon and Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment as seminal works of critical race theatre. I argue the necessity of applying critical race theory to the theatre and creating such a body of work if the theatre is to play a part in striving for racial justice. By analyzing the use of metatheatrical devices to confront race in both of these plays, I additionally make the case that metatheatre is the best frame within which to craft a body of critical race theatre. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS While the actual writing of this paper was a solitary endeavor, it would not have happened without countless others to whom I owe great thanks. I’d be remiss to not give a special thank you to my thesis chair Belinda Boyd, who agreed to take on the challenge of heading my committee and working with me as I completed this paper from five different states over the past two and a half years. Thank you as well to my committee members Jim Brown and John Shafer, for agreeing to join the committee of a student they barely knew, and for their invaluable insight on this paper. Many thanks also to Lauren Becker, who has helped me navigate all of the registrations, forms, and deadlines of completing my degree remotely with enduring patience. To David Reed, who gave me the clarity and courage to step off the wrong academic path (and introduced me to An Octoroon), and to Dr. Julia Listengarten, who helped me find the right one, thank you. Thanks also to Aaron C. Thomas, who helped me hone the scope of this paper and introduced me to The Shipment. To my undergraduate advisor Chris Hatch, thank you for your constant support and encouragement at every step on my graduate school journey. Thanks to Chris Woodworth, for the ever helpful WWG and the process of "sh*tty first drafts," and to Heather May, for proving to me that theatre can (and maybe must) be a force for real change. And finally, to the many friends and family members who edited countless drafts, listened to countless frustrations, inspired countless parts of this paper, and kept me moving forward, thank you. This paper is your victory as well as mine. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER TWO: METATHEATRE............................................................................................. 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5 Mode One: Play-Within-the-Play ............................................................................................... 7 Mode Two: Ceremony-Within-the-Play ..................................................................................... 9 Mode Three: Role-Playing-Within-the-Role ............................................................................ 10 Mode Four: Literary or Real-Life Reference ............................................................................ 12 Mode Five: Self-Reference ....................................................................................................... 14 A New Mode: Involving the Audience ..................................................................................... 15 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 17 CHAPTER THREE: CRITICAL RACE THEORY ..................................................................... 19 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 19 Tenets of Critical Race Theory ................................................................................................. 20 Application to Theatre .............................................................................................................. 23 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 24 CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS OF AN OCTOROON ................................................................ 27 Metatheatre: Play-Within-the-Play ........................................................................................... 27 v Metatheatre: Ceremony-Within-the-Play.................................................................................. 28 Metatheatre: Role-Playing-Within-the-Role ............................................................................. 31 Metatheatre: Real-Life Reference ............................................................................................. 32 Metatheatre: Self-Reference ..................................................................................................... 33 Metatheatre: Involving the Audience........................................................................................ 34 An Octoroon as a Critical Race Play......................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER FIVE: ANALYSIS OF THE SHIPMENT.................................................................. 43 Metatheatre: Overview.............................................................................................................. 43 Metatheatre: Play-Within-the-Play ........................................................................................... 44 Metatheatre: Ceremony-Within-the-Play.................................................................................. 48 Metatheatre: Role-Playing-Within-the-Role ............................................................................. 51 Metatheatre: Literary and Real-Life Reference ........................................................................ 54 Metatheatre: Self-Reference ..................................................................................................... 55 Metatheatre: Involving the Audience........................................................................................ 58 The Shipment as a Critical Race Play ....................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION ................................................................................................. 65 LIST OF REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 69 vi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This Martin Luther King Jr. quote, popularized by President Barack Obama during his campaign and presidency, has now long been a kind of battle-cry for the American political left and those searching for positive social change. However, many have rightfully criticized this message as implying futility of action, and encouraging complacency. The original quote from the abolitionist minister Theodore Parker that inspired Dr. King’s one-liner, while less rhetorically snappy, leaves less room for complacency: I do not pretend to understand the moral universe. The arc is a long one. My eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by experience of sight. I can divine it by conscience. And from what
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